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Wondering how to create focus? How to create organized posters and well laid out charts? How to have your posters, agendas and lists look professional? The answer is: Bullets !
Bullets
Start every line of text with a shape. Make sure that each comment, each key point, and each agenda item starts with a bullet. Create clear, recognizable shapes such as triangles, circles and spirals.
Keep this in mind with bullets:
Make thick lines.
Be sure to turn your marker so you get a thick line for drawing the shapes.
Practice drawing shapes
Experiment with the shapes that are easy for you to draw: a spiral and a circle.
Next, practice ones that take a little longer: triangle, diamond and square.
Go with gravity
It’s easier to draw the shapes from top to bottom. Use gravity to your advantage.
Let Go.
No more dots, dashes or numbers in front of comments.
Dots don’t really add anything to the chart. Dashes can look like a minus sign or negative mark. Not what you want in front of someone’s comment or a key learning point.
And numbers? In lists or agendas, numbers make it seem that there is a fixed, immutable order to the agenda. If this is true, numbers work.
The problem is repeated when you’re listing input from students. Numbers make it seem as if one comment is more important than the next. That’s not very inviting for participants.
Keep the tone of your agendas and lists friendly and clear. Use bullets to emphasize the message you’re sending.
Make the Best Banners
Banners make titles stand out. A banner finishes your poster with a professional, crisp appearance. And the good news is a banner is easier than it looks at first.
Follow the steps in the video clip to draw a basic banner. Remember your goal: get comfortable. Learn the steps and you’ll be able to draw banners for titles.
Here’s a couple of pointers: Glad you learned that already! A thick line looks more confident and professional. If you write the word first, you can adjust the length and size of the banner to fit. Much easier than forcing a word to fit into a banner.
Do a double-check.
Check your banner to make sure that you’ve got all the parts working together. If you feel your banner is “funny looking” check these points: - Did you write the word first?
- Are all the lines thick?
- Did you draw the bottom part of the banner with horizontal lines?
- Did you start the side part of the banner half way down the beginning box?
- Did you shade in the upper triangle with straight, thick vertical lines?
Borders
Do you want charts to look finished and professional? What’s the secret? Use borders to frame your charts.
A border is like a ribbon on a package. Whipped cream on a sundae. It’s the finishing touch that really makes the whole thing work. Use borders to frame your work. Your posters will look immediately more expert and professional.
Don’t worry. This is quick and you already have been doing everything you’re about to practice. Only now, you’ll be drawing bigger. Borders are fast to draw and flexible to use with any chart topic. Practice the five borders shown in the video clip. Practice all of these borders large—on an easel chart and also small, so that you can get used to how it feels to create them.
Remember:
Draw the border last.
Draw the border after you finish all the writing on your chart. This gives you flexibility if you need to go around a drawing or text.
You’re doing great!
You’ve learned so much! Think back for a moment. You’ve learned all about holding a marker and how to work with an easel. You’ve learned the “in’s” and “out’s” of making dynamic posters with the three B’s: bullets, banners and borders. And aren’t you feeling more comfortable now that you know the basics plus quite a few more tricks to use. You’re ready to go!
Dots don’t really add anything to the chart. Dashes can look like a minus sign or negative mark. Not what you want in front of someone’s comment or a key learning point.
And numbers? In lists or agendas, numbers make it seem that there is a fixed, immutable order to the agenda. If this is true, numbers work.
The problem is repeated when you’re listing input from students. Numbers make it seem as if one comment is more important than the next. That’s not very inviting for participants.
Keep the tone of your agendas and lists friendly and clear. Use bullets to emphasize the message you’re sending.
Make the Best Banners
Banners make titles stand out. A banner finishes your poster with a professional, crisp appearance. And the good news is a banner is easier than it looks at first.
Follow the steps in the video clip to draw a basic banner. Remember your goal: get comfortable. Learn the steps and you’ll be able to draw banners for titles.
Here’s a couple of pointers:
Glad you learned that already! A thick line looks more confident and professional.
If you write the word first, you can adjust the length and size of the banner to fit. Much easier than forcing a word to fit into a banner.
Do a double-check.
Check your banner to make sure that you’ve got all the parts working together. If you feel your banner is “funny looking” check these points:
- Did you write the word first?
- Are all the lines thick?
- Did you draw the bottom part of the banner with horizontal lines?
- Did you start the side part of the banner half way down the beginning box?
- Did you shade in the upper triangle with straight, thick vertical lines?
Borders
Do you want charts to look finished and professional? What’s the secret? Use borders to frame your charts.
A border is like a ribbon on a package. Whipped cream on a sundae. It’s the finishing touch that really makes the whole thing work. Use borders to frame your work. Your posters will look immediately more expert and professional.
Don’t worry. This is quick and you already have been doing everything you’re about to practice. Only now, you’ll be drawing bigger. Borders are fast to draw and flexible to use with any chart topic. Practice the five borders shown in the video clip. Practice all of these borders large—on an easel chart and also small, so that you can get used to how it feels to create them.
Remember:
Draw the border last.
Draw the border after you finish all the writing on your chart. This gives you flexibility if you need to go around a drawing or text.
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